Epidemiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the odontogen cervico facial cellulitis in the Ebolowa Regional Hospital Center

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of cervicofacial cellulitis of dental origin at the Ebolowa Regional Hospital Center (ERHC).

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study, carried out on the basis of the files of patients treated for cervico-facial cellulitis of dental origin in ERHC, between january 2022 and august 2024. The variables studied were age, sex, reason for consultation, use of non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, HIV serology, causal teeth, type of cellulite and treatment. These data were entered using Excel 2016 then analyzed by SPSS v23.0.

Results: The sample consisted of 50 usable files for a prevalence of 4,45%. The mean age was 37.6 ± 2.6 years. The sex-ratio was 0.78. The main reason for consultation was painful swelling of the face and/or neck. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and positive HIV serology were found in 88% and 12%, respectively. The extracted tooth was unique in 44 patients, 14 of whom had No. 36 as the causal tooth. The submylohyoid location was the most common (34%), and diffuse cellulitis was noted in 14%; the collected cellulite represented 60% of cases. 80% of patients were hospitalized. The treatment was medico-surgical in 86% of patients and the first choice of antibiotic was amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (46%). The mortality was 14%.

Conclusion: The prevalence of odontogenic cervico-facial cellulitis at the ERHC is high. The death rate remains high despite well-conducted medical and surgical treatment.